Happy Holidays

Happy Holidays everyone.

This year we had to improvise with our Christmas decorations.

Remember this cute little puppy, Scarlett, we got earlier this year?

and of course, our little Maisy we got the year before? 

Well, now they are partners in crime.  

 Scarlett is 10 months old. 

Those of you who have had labrador puppies know that

10 month old lab youngsters and Christmas trees just don't mix.

Instead of putting up our big tree, we put up a little one

on top of our antique pie rack.

At first I was a bit disappointed.  

I'm very traditional when it comes to the holidays.

Then, I saw the possibilities; decorating with things

I've never used before.

This old chip clip became our Christmas card holder

that hung on one side of the rack.

Here's our favorite Christmas card this year.

Our fun friends, the Yarbroughs, dressed up as Elvis.

(That's mom, dad and two beautiful girls).

 an old metal tool box holds ornaments

 a bunch of old outdoor faucet knobs tied with wire

became my red industrial garland

 There was plenty of room to add presents on all of the shelves

but still out of reach from pups.

 Red velvet ribbon, silver beads and mercury glass little ornaments

made the tree pretty cute.

 This rack turned out to be a great place to hold all of the

treats we made to share with family, friends and neighbors.

 We made several batches of peppermint syrup and

homemade cookie butter.

Maybe a small tree on the old pie rack isn't such a bad idea.

All of the shelves are really kind of handy.

 

Hope you enjoy special time with your family and friends

this holiday season.

finally...Christmas home tour

I must be one of the last ones to show you my home.  I'm notorious for putting things off until the last minute and Christmas decorating and shopping are no exception.  Surprisingly, I'm finished decorating and just about finished shopping and there are still a few days left before Christmas.  That's a first for me.

When it comes to Christmas decorating, I can sum up my style in 3 words: red, metal, traditional.

Now I'm not one of you awesome people who decorate every room.  I decorate the front porch, the entry and  dining room and mantel area.  That's about it.  My idea of decorating the entire house is putting some Twisted Peppermint soap from Bath and Body Works in the bathrooms and calling it a day.

So, here are my little decorations.

The Front Porch  

A simple bucket of red ornament balls 

They add a little sparkle...especially at night when the Christmas lights are on.

Did I mention we have a surrey? With fringe on top and everything.

Wouldn't it be cute to sit your little one in that for Christmas picture?

My almost 14 yr old little one wouldn't do it.

Pardon the cords but the surrey has white lights on it and is so cute lit up at night.

The metal Santa in the back also has lights inside.

As a kid, my sister and I would pedal around on this thing.  

My cousin gave me this old metal snowman one year for Christmas.

He's all cracked and rusted and so cute.

3 metal mittens hang by the door.

The Entry and Dining Room

We have this cool old sled.  It's in great condition because we live in Texas.

Not much opportunity for sledding around here.

The little tags are metal and spell out "jingle bells" when they all

face the same direction.  Love those little red bells.

The tree is in the dining room for two reasons: 1) I love it lit up at night in the front window of our house

and 2) it's fun to have dinner by the glow of the lights

All of the ball are red even though they look pink in the pic.

Love the tin icicles.

White chippy tin snowman from my neighbor.

Handpainted tin bear ornament

These vintage red ornaments were given to us by my mother-in-law 

for one of our first Christmases.  She had used them for their first Christmases.

I've had the tin icicles for years.  I can't even remember where I got them.

 I still have so many presents to wrap.  

The Fireplace Area

These "old looking" stocking hangers are cast iron and I picked them up 

a few years ago at Target.  Yep, Target and they were cheap.

Sorry for the blurry pics but I love this little tree.

It's made of bells painted all different colors.  I got it a few years ago

at Michael's craft store.  I bet some of you crafty people could make one!

My recently acquired cheap red vintage ladder has found a home in our main living area.

Happy Holidays!